I have just been to a talk by Jeff Koons, who is over for the opening of an exhibition at the Almine Rech gallery.   What I most enjoyed was the discussion afterwards in which he revealed a detailed knowledge of, and interest in, the work of mannerists in the collection of the Hermitage, including the work of Pontormo, at which point many of the characteristics of his work – its extreme attention to finish and its sometimes sentimental appeal to the emotions – slipped into place.   He’s a late modern mannerist.